Packaging machine



May 20, 1952 G. L. M CARGAR 2,597,120

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed July 15, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS R R. vw M A 3 EU M m k w M r R m. 0 3 E mi 4 Q Q w m J 2 5 l= 5 w w M aw -[Mgi A May 20, 1952 G MccARGAR I 2,597,120

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed July 15, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 \rwamog Gaoaea L.M CIlQAR ATTORNEYS May 20, 1952 G, MCCARGAR V 2,597,120

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed July 15, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 24 107 my I 429 o177 139 a4 \NVENTOR m 59 60 124 GEORGE L.NCARGAR i 125 v 1% BY Q 1/8ATTORNEYS ma Patented May 20, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF I CE Thepresent invention relates to a packaging machine, and is primarilyconcerned with a novel, practically operative machine for rapidly packaging food materials, one example of which is spinach in substantiallyexact amounts as to weight, and in a compressed condition so as togreatly reduce the space occupied in comparison to the space filled bythe same weight loose spinach occupies. With the machine of myinvention, the material to be packaged, in practice in bags, is rapidly.conveyed by a conveyor to the machine, and at the delivery end or themachine, in a compressed condition, is contained within bags, theweights of spinach within the bags being substantially the same and withsuch tolerances as are legally required with respect to therepresentation of the weights of materials which are publicly sold inpackages. With the machine of my invention, and as one object andpurpose thereof, very rapid packaging of the normally loose and bulkymaterials which the machine is to handle is attained by means of amachine which occupies relatively small space and in which gravity isutilized in part, together with electrical controlling circuits andcompressed air or other equivalent compressure fluid for operatingmovable parts of the machine in proper timed relation to each other, fora continuous, speedy and substantially perfect handling and packaging ofthe type of food materials mentioned.

An understandingof .the inventionv may be had fromthe followingdescription, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings inwhich,

Fig. 1 is averticalsection, with parts shown in side elevation, of amachine made in accordance with my invention, the section being fromfront to rear.

' Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section through theupper portion ofthe machine.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section therethrough.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of the collecting and weighingdrum mechanism, and

the'mechanism used forits operation and. control.

"Fig. 5 is a fragmentary rear elevation of one ofthe' safe guardingcontrols of the machine.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section throughthe machine, at a lower plane thanin Fig. 3, showing the compressor mechanism in plan.

Fig. 7 is a front elevation thereof somewhat enlarged.

' Fig. 8 is a fragmentary under plan view illustrating the releasablebag holding mechanism at its operative position.

' rectangular outline.

Fig. 9 is a similar. under plan enlarged, showing the bag holdingmechanism released.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary vertical section showing, in side elevation,the bag holding mecha nism, and

Fig. 11 illustrates diagrammatically the electrical and pressure fluidcontrol circuits and mechanisms of the machine.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figuresof the drawings.

The supporting frame structure of the machine includes vertical frontand rear posts I at four corners of the machine (Fig. 6), the side postsbeing connected by side bars 2 in any number required extending betweensaid posts, and with transverse bars 3 between the front and rear posts,making a light, rigid supporting frame.

At the upper end of the frame, horizontal rods 4 are located and mountedabove the upper side frame bars 2, upon which an inclined gate support,having spaced sides 5 and an upper horizontal bar 6 connecting them attheir upper ends, is located. At the inner sides of the side bars 5,longitudinal grooves l are cut f0r,s1idab1y.receiving and guiding thevertical edge portions of the gate 8 which, in form as shown, is of Thegate support with the gate thereon is mountedfor. adjustment lengthwiseof the rods 4 by means of blocks 9 slidable on said rods, and as shownin Fig. 2. The gate with its support may be adjusted as to its angle ofinclination to the vertical, manually operated screws being used torelease the gate frame and the blocks 9 for adjustment, the tighteningof the screws securing the gate in any position to which it may beadjusted.

The gate is movable lengthwise of the groove 1. Lever i0 (Fig. 2),pivotally mounted between its ends on one side 5 ofthe gate carryingframe, at one end, is longitudinally slotted. ,A' pin or screw II passesthrough the slot and connects with the gate 8 so that movement of thelever I9 about its pivot moves said gate in accordance with thedirection of movement of the lever. Links l2 are interposed between,said lever and the lower end of a piston rod [3, said links beingpivotally connected at their ends thereto. The

piston rod connects with a piston within a vertical cylinder I4 mountedon the same side member 5' and adapted, as hereafter described, to havea pressure fluid, such as compressed air,

' carried into the cylinder alternately at opposite ends thereof. Themovement of the piston in opposite directions reciprocates the gate 8.

There is also, mounted on the rods 4 a depending vertical stop 15disposed toward the front upper end portion of the machine, having acurved arcuate section |5a at its lower end. Said stop plate [5 issecured to members [5 which may be adjusted lengthwise of the rods 4.Side plates I? extend rearwardly from the vertical edges of the plate l5and similarly spaced side plates l8 (Fig. l) extend rearwardly from thesides 5 of the gate frame. An endless conveyor I9 is located around aroller 23 at its front mounted at the rear upper portion of thesupporting frame. Said conveyor is driven at a desired speed with theupper run of the belt moving in the direction indicated by the arrows inFig. 1, so that the material, such as stalks or leaves of spinach, orother similar vegetables at 2|, are projected in a forward direction andstrike against the stop plate at !5 thereafter dropping downwardly bygravity. Such projection of the material 2| to the full extent shown inFig. 1 must be with the gate 8 elevated. When the gate is lowered, thespinach leaves or other materials strike against it and drop downward bygravity at a different place in the machine.

A drum is mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis below the lowerend of the gate carrying frame. In construction, the drum comprises twocircular side discs 22 located in parallel vertical planes and spacedfrom each other, having diametrically disposed partitions 23 between andconnecting said disc sides. Two of such diametrically disposedpartitions are used thus dividing the drum into four quadrant shapedcompartments or chambers. As will hereafter be described. the drum isalways stopped with one of the partitions vertically disposed and theother in a horizontal plane as shown in Fig. 1. Thus, when the spinachleaves or other materials are projected against the vertical stop platel5, they drop into the front upper compartment of the drum, as shown inFig. 1, but when the gate 5 is in its lower obstructing position, it isthe rear upper compartment that receives such material.

Four pins 24 extend laterally in an outward direction from one side 22of the drum. They are located 90 degrees apart and in the same planeswith the partitions 23. Horizontal frame bars 25 extend between thefront and rear posts I of the frame at each side thereof in a planesubstantially coincident with the turning axis of the drum. The drum ismounted for rotation on the spaced sides of a U-shaped fork having atransverse rear bar 26 and spaced forwardly extending sides 21 and 28,one at the outer side of each side of said drum, with the ends of ashaft through the drum at its center rotatably mounted near the freeforward ends of said sides 21 and 28. The sides of the fork toward theirrear ends are mounted for rocking movement at 29 to rock about ahorizontal axis. being carried by the frame bars 25. the rear bar 26 andnear its free rear end carries adjustable weights 3| thereon. The drummounting structure, therefore, has a limited tilting movement about theaxis of the pivots 29. When the front upper compartment of the drumisempty, weights 3| lift the drum to an upper position, but when asufficient weight of material has been delivered to said frontcompartment, its weight overcomes the weights at 3| and the drum tendsto move bodily in a downward direction.

At the outer side of the side 22 of the drum which carries the pins 24,a disc 32 is secured from which four pins 33 extend outwardly, equallyspaced from eachother and radially alined with the pins 24. A bracket 34is mounted on the A rod 30 extends rearwardly from side 21 of the drumfork support and is curved upwardly and forwardly, as shown in Fig. 1.Near its free forward end it carries a switch closing member 35 againstwhich the pins 33 come in succession on rotation of the drum I, movingthe switch member 35 to control an electric circuit in which said switchis included, with each degrees of rotation of turning of said drum for ahereafter described purpose. A second switch 36 (Fig. l) is mounted onthe main frame above the arm 2! forward of the pivots 28. The switch 36is closed by engagement of the side 21 thereagainst when the drum istilted down by the weight of the material in its front forwardcompartment.

As shown in Fig. 5, a bracket 31 is permanently secured to a reartransverse frame bar 3 disposed (in Fig. 1) a short distance above thetilting drum carrying frame. On bracket 31 a solenoid winding 38 ismounted. The armature 39 extending below the winding 38 is pivotallyconnected at its lower end to the end of a lever 40 pivotally mountedbetween its ends on the bracket, the free end portion of the lever 40extending over rod 30. The position of the lever 40 is controlled byenergizing or deenergizing the solenoid 38. In one position itinterposes a stop against the upward movement of the rod 30. Said rod ispermitted a greater upward movement when the lever is as shown in Fig. 5than when the armature 39 is moved upwardly upon energizing the solenoidwinding 38.

At the opposite side 22 of the drum a block 4| with rounded corners isconnected (Fig. 4). It turns with the drum about the same horizontalaxis of rotation. An arm 42 is pivotally mounted at its rear end on andat the upper side of the side 28 of the drum carrying fork, extendingforwardly and upwardly therefrom. An adjustable screw 43 is mounted onand passes through the forward portion of the arm 42, at its lower endcoming against the upper side of the side 28, and is normally moved in adownward direction by the spring 44. A pin 45 extends laterally andinward from the arm 42 over the edges of the block 4|. Such structure asdescribed interposes a brake upon the free rotation of the drum as thecorners of said block come to said pin, and such braking action may beincreased or diminished by the adjustment of the screw 43. When the pinis'riding upon the rounded corners of the block 4|, the braking actionis greatest and midway between said corners, it is at a minimum orabsent.

The spinach receiving drum is rotated (Fig. 4) by means of a pressurefluid cylinder 45, from the piston of which a rod 41 extends. On the roda block 48 is secured which at the end cdjacent the piston has adownwardly extending projection 49. At the other end a spring latch 50is pivotally mounted having an inclined under side as shown.

On entrance of a pressure fluid, such as compressed air, at the innerend of the cylinder 46 rod 41 is moved inwardly. The dog 5|) engagedwith a pin 24 gives a strong rotative impulse to the drum which underthe momentum imparted is turned through a quarter of a circle in thedirection indicated by the arrows in Fig. 4, so that the spinach orother material in the upper front compartment or chamber of the drum isdumped into a lower positioned hopper 5| (Fig. l). The drum is stoppedafter it is moved through onequarter of a complete rotation by the nextsuc ceeding pin 24 riding under the inclined edge of latch 5|] andcoming against the projection 49,

rod 41 by such time having been returned to its initial position.Immediately preceding theengagemen't of the next succeeding pin with theprojection 49' the braking or retarding structure which has beendescribed exerts its greater force, pin riding upon a corner of thesquare block 4|. Likewise such braking'or retarding is at a minimumduring the earlier parts of the drum rotation.

A horizontal platform 52 is mounted on and carried by the machine framea distance below hopper 5| and is narrowed in width at its front sideand extended a distance in front 'of the frame as indicated at 52a (Fig.9). ,The hopper 5| is open at its lower end and so that the vegetablematerial, such as spinach or the like, passes through it and within theconfines of U-shaped presser member having a curved inner end 53 andparallel vertical spaced sides 54, (Figs. 6 and 11). Said presser memberis mounted for outward and inward movement on the platform 52, the loweredges of the sides 54 being outwardly flanged and guided underneathspaced parallel guide bars 55 secured at the upper side of the platformand extending at their front ends to the outer edge of the narrowedplatform portion 520:. Near the front edge of said narrow portion 52a, avertical curved plate 56 is fixedly secured in place the spaced sides 54of the presser member being located one at each side edge of the member56. Member 56 is located at the front of a circular hole 51 made throughthe portion 52a of the platform 52a. At the under side of the forwardnarrow portion 52a of the platform, and in line with the opening 51, abag holding spout58 is permanently secured (Fig. 1).

The presser member is reciprocated by the longitudinal movement of apiston rod-59 extending into the end of a cylinder 66 and connected to apiston therein (Figs. 1 and 6) Compressed air or other pressure fluid isalternately conducted to the opposite ends of the cylinder. The spinachor other similar food material which has been dumped upon the platform52 within the walls of the presser member is compressed substantially, acylindrical form on outward movement of the piston rod 59, and as thuscompressed is located directly over the opening 57.

A cylinder 6| is mounted vertically at the front of the machine frameover said opening 51. A piston rod 62 extends outwardly from its lowerend, and at the lower end of the rod a substantially circular head 63 issecured. On the downward movement of the rod 62 the compressed spinachis pushed downwardly through the spout 58 into a bag which is releasablysecured at its upper open end around the spout. The reciprocation of therod 62 is controlled by the alternate conduction of the compressed airto the upper and lower ends of the cylinder 6|.

-The releasable bag holding structure is shown in Figs. 8 and 9, locatedat the under side of the platform 52.

Two jaw carrying arms 64, equipped each at its front end with thegripping jaws 65 shaped to engage the spout 58, cross each other and arepivotally connected together at the cross at 66. The inner ends of thearms 64 are connected by a coiled tension spring 61 which when free todo so, movesthe jaws 65 toward the delivery spout 58 and presses againstits opposite sides, a bag the open upper end of which is telescopedupwardly around the delivery spout.

Toggle links 68 pivotally connected at their meeting ends have pivotalconnections attlieir outer end one to each of the inner ends of the arm64. When they are in alinement withea'ch other, or slightly off deadcenter toward the front, they maintain the jaws 65 spaced from the spout58 whereby the upper end of a bag may be placed therearound. The pivotpin connecting the adjacent ends of the toggle arm 68 is guided in alongitudinal guide 69. A roller 10 is mounted on the pivot pin at theknuckle of the toggle. When the jaws 65 are at inner gripping position,as in Fig. 8, the release thereof andfreeing of the bag with the spinachor other material which in compressed form has been delivered thereto isaccomplished by the outward movement of a piston rod H extending fromthe front end of the cylinder 12 having compressed air or pressure fluidalternately delivered to its ends. Such movement of rod 1| forwardlystraightens the toggle from the position shown in Fig. 8 to that in Fig.9.

With the gripping jaws positioned as in Fig. 9 after a bag has beenlocated over a spout 58 the toggle is broken by manually operated means.Such means or mechanism consists of a rod 13, having a head 14 to pushagainst at its front end, and which carries an arm 15 the free end ofwhich is disposed at the front in the path of movement of the roller 18.Rod 13 may be moved lengthwise through its supporting brackets 16 so asto push the roller 10 a short distance inwardly, whereupon the spring 61will function, moving the jaws 65 to operative gripping position andclamping against a bag over the spout 58 and thereby hold it againstaccidental or undesired disconnection.

In Fig. 11 a diagram of the electric and pressure fluid circuits isshown. Pressure fluid carrying pipes 11 and 18 connect the upper end ofthe cylinder l4 and the outer end of the cylinder 46, and the lower endof said cylinder i l and the inner end of cylinder 56, respectively.Pipe 19' connects the two pipes 11 and T8, interposed in the length ofwhich is a movable valve which may be turned by moving an operating armor handle 88 therefore, to direct compressed air passing to the valvehousing through a pipe 8| to the upper and outer ends of cylinders l4and 48 simultaneously, or, reversely, to the lower and inner endsthereof. The exhaust of the compressed air is outward through the pipe82.

The valve actuating arm or handle is moved clockwise when a solenoidWinding 63 is energized by our ent flowing therethrough, moving thearmature of the solenoid to the right (Fig. 11) and holding it aslcng'as the current it not'interrupted. Upon interruption of currentthrough the'solenoid winding the valve arm is movedin the oppositedirection to reverse the flow of compressed air. It is to be understoodthat the armature is spring actuated for such movement.

One end of the solenoid winding is connected with a line or wire 84leading to a source of electrical current. The opposite end of thewinding is connected with the wire 85 which may be electricallyconnected, when contacts 35 are brought together, with the opposite wire87 of the circuit.

Upon breaking the circuit at the contact 35, reversal of the flow ofcompressed air takes place.

A relay 88 has a magnetic core which when energized moves the contact 86connected with the wire 8'! to the contact of the wire 85 as shown inFig. 11. A second contact 96 is connected with the movable member of therelay being movable with the contact 86, said second contact at havingconnection with a circuitwire 89 which leads to one side of the switch36. With the relay 88 a wire SI leading to a source of electric currentis shown. A second wire 92 from the other end of the relay winding hasconnected therewith a second contact with which the contact 99 isassociated. Said wire 92 leads from the relay 98 to a timed relay 93,which has wires 94 and 95 therewith for the supply of electric current.The second wire 95 from the timed relay connects with one side of switch35. The wire 9? leads to the opposite side of the switch 38. Wire 93connected with wire 97 leads to the opposite side of the switch 35. Fromth timed relay 93, wires I90 and Iill lead to the end of solenoidwinding 38 which operates the pivoted finger 40. An additional circuitWire i32 carrying current is connected with the wire 98 and, therefore,with one side of switch 35. The other wire I63 of such circuit leads toa second timed relay I95, the opposite wire I34 of which is connectedwith wire 96 and, therefore, with the other side of the switch 35. Thecurrent supplying Wires for the timed relay H35 are at I33 and I97. Onewire I08 from the opposed side of the timed relay I85 leads to andconnects at one end of the solenoid winding I83, the other end of saidwinding being connected by wire ill) with a switch i II the operation ofopen or closing of which is controlled by the movement of the spinachpresser member, an edge of a side 54 thereof operating the switch. Saidswitch may be normally closed and, therefore, opened at the completionof the movement to compress the spinach into a cylindrical mass. Thewire II2 leading from the opposite side of theswitch is connected to theother side of the timed relay I95.

The presser member operating cylinder 68 has fluid pressure carryingpipe II3 and H4 leading to opposite ends thereof, which are connectedwith the valve housing, the control valve in which is operated by an armI 55 actuated in one direction by the movement of the armature of thesolenoid I39 when current is passing through said solenoid, and in theopposite direction by the spring shown. The inlet and exhaust pipes I I6and I I? are associated with the valve housing in the usual manner.

The bag holding or clamping means has its pressure fluid supplied tocylinder I2 through pipes H8 or I29 alternately to opposite ends ofsaid, cylinder. The pipes connect with a valve housing, the valve ofwhich is moved between two positions to control the direction of the howof the air through an operating arm I23, said valve housing having inletand exhaust pipes I2I and I22. The arm $29 is moved in one direction bythe armature of a solenoid winding I23 while current is passing throughsaid winding, a spring moving the armature in the opposite directionwhen the circuit is broken. A relay 24 is connected by the wires I25with the ends of the solenoid winding I23. Said relay has associatedtherewith circuit wires leading to a source of electric current as shownat {25 and I21. The wire I21 leads to one side of a witch I28 in thepath of movement of the head 53, the second wire i29 from the other sideof the switch connecting with the relay I23.

The vertical cylinder SI has compressed air carried to its upper andlower ends by the pipes I33 and I3I, joined with a valve housing thevalve within which is moved by turning the valve arm I32, the usualintake and exhaust pipes I33 and I34 for the pressure fluid beingsupplied for the compressed air circuit last described.

Movement of arm I32 in one direction is actuated by energizing of asolenoid winding I35 and in the opposite direction by a spring actingupon the solenoid armature. The ends of the solenoid winding areconnected with a relay I31. The circuit wires I38 and I39 for supplyingthe relay with current, one of them, I39, as shown is connected with aswitch I40 from which a wire I4I leads to the relay. Said switch I49 isalso actuated by a side 54 of the spinach compressor member when acompression stroke reaches its extreme position of movement.

In the diagram shown in Fig. 11, the gate 8 is in upper position, whichmeans that the compressed air is conducted to the upper end of cylinderI4 through the pipe 11 and to the outer end of the cylinder 48. Valve isheld by solenoid 33 which has current flowing through it in a positionto cause the compressed air to pass through the pipe 11, and this fiowof current through the solenoid Winding 83 is continuous as long as t econtacts 38 are together The holding current through the relay at 38 isthrough the wires 9|, the contacts at 98, wire 89 and wire 91 andthrough the switch 38. Upon a predetermined weight of the material, suchas spinach being delivered to the front upper chamber or compartment ofthe drum, it is tilted in a down ward direction about a pivot 29, andswitch 33 is momentarily opened, whereupon the relay at 88 isdeenergized and the contacts at 83 and S8 separated. Flow of currentthrough the solenoid winding at 83 is interrupted and the springactuated armature thereof moves valve arm 99 to reverse the flow ofcompressed air, which thereupon passes through the pipe I8 to the lowerend of cylinder I4 and the inner end of cylinder 45. The gate 8 is movedto its down position and the rod 41 is moved outwardly, giving animpulse of rotation to the drum to move it through a quarter turn, asearlier described, dumping the drum compartment contents into the hopperbelow and moving the next succeeding upper compartment of the drum intoreceiving position.

During such rotative movement, a pin 33 closes the switch at 35,whereupon there is a current momentarily completed through the relay at83 and the timed relay at 93 through the wires 9|, 92, 96 and 98. Thiscauses a reengagement of the contacts 86 and 99 and a momentary actionof the lever 49 to return the drum to its normal operative position. Theflow of compressed air through the pipe I8 is of short duration so thatthe reversal of compressed air flows by change of position of the valvearm 38 follows quickly after the gate 8 has been lowered and the drumgiven its one step of rotation through degrees, the gate 8, and the rod41 and the latch connected therewith returning to the initial positionshown in Fig. 11. The circuit above described through the relay 88, thewire 9 I, the contact 90 and wires 89 and 3! and the switch 36 is aholding circuit and will energize the relay 88 until broken by theswitch 33. The circuit 9I-929333, momentarily closed by the switch asthe drum rotates, momentarily energizes the relays B8 and 93, againclosing the holding circuit above re ferred to, including the contacts99 and 8S, and causes the lever 48 to momentarily act to push the drumcarrying fork back to operating position thereby closing the switch 33and said holding circuit out this movement of the lever 43 is onlymomentary and it does not continue to hold the rod 38 depressed.

The structure thus described is for the control of the rotative movementof the drum when the predetermined weight of material has been receivedin the front upper drum compartment, accompanied by a downward and veryshortly after, an upward movement of the gate 8.

The closure of the switch at 35 during the turning movement of the drumcloses a circuit through the wires I32, m3 and ltd through the timedrelay I35, and in accordance with the interval of time by which therelay N55 is governed.

The circuit including the wires I63 and lid is closed energizing thesolenoid N39 to move the valve arm M5 to change the flow or" compressedair through the pipe I I3 to the opposite pipe it connected withcylinder so and move the U-shape compressor 5354 to compress the spinachinto cylindrical form. It is to be understood that the switch III isnormally closed. Such switch is opened by a side 54 of the compressorengaging therewith, thus breaking the circuit through the wires III] andII2 whereupon the spring associated with the solenoid I09 acts to returnthe valve arm H5 to its original position, with pressure of air to thefront end of cylinder iii! and a return of the compressor to itsoriginal position.

Compressed air to hold the head 63 in its up er position is directedthrough the pipe I3! to the lo er end of the cylinder GI with the valvearm I32, as shown, held in such position by the spring associated withthe armature of the solenoid 35. The circuit through wires I38 and I39is normally open be ng closed when the circuit I l? is closed on theforward extreme of movement of a side of the compressor. Upon c osingsuch circuit, the timed relay I3! acts after the proper interval toenergize the solenoid I and swing the arm I32 to reverse the flow ofcompressed air to cylinder 4I, whereupon the pushing head (53 is moveddownwardly to force the cylindrical compressed mass of spinach into abag, the upper end of which is located over the delivery snout 53. Onsuch downward movement, the switch I23 which has been held open by thehead 63 in its upper position, is closed, completing a circuit throughthe wires I21, I29 and I23 through the timed relay I24 with an operationof the valve controlled by the arm I2fl to reverse the flow ofcompressed air from the front to the rear end of the cylinder 12,thereupon opening the bag clamping arms 64 so that the bag with thespinach therein is removable from the spout 53. On the return of thehead 63 to upper position in closing the switch I28, the rod II returnsto its initial position, but the toggle arms 68 remain in open positionuntil released by manually operating the push rod I3 whereupon a new emty bag which has been placed upon the spout is gripped so that it willbe held in place until a next succeeding compressed cylindrical mass ofthe spinach or othe like vegeta e m terial is ver thereto.

With the construction described, the leaves or stalks of spinach intheir loose form, are delivered to the conveyor and moved continuouslytoward and proiected by the speed of the conveyor into the frontcompartment of the drum until a predetermined weight thereof has beendelivered to cause a tilting of the drum in a downward direction bygravity, which thereupon starts the cycles of operation described inmotion. At the instant that the drum tilts downward the gate 8 lowers sothat no more spinach is delivered into the front compartment but it isdeflected to fall into the next rear compartment and when the drumrotates the said next rear compartment moves to the front, the gaterises and the spinach continues to flow into that same compartment whichis now in front. The drum in themeantime has returned to its initialreceiving position with the next succeeding compartment of, the drumlocatedto receive the spinach; and when a sufficient weight thereof isagain delivered, all of the cycles described are repeated. The operationcontinues without interruption so long as delivery of spinach iscontinued.

The construction is sure and certain in operation, is very rapid in thepackaging of large quantities of spinach in compressed form in a shortperiod of time, and with each package of substantially the same weight.There is a very marked saving of time and of labor costs.

The invention is defined in the appended claims and is to be consideredcomprehensive of all forms of structure coming within their scope.

I claim: I

1. In a machine of the class described, means for continuously conveyingmaterial in loosely separated condition and proiecting it therefrom in asubstantially. horizontal direction, a drum having spaced sides anddiametrically positioned partitions providing a plurality ofcompartments open at their outer ends, a vertical plate above the drumspaced from said conveyor means and disposed against which said loosematerial to be packaged is proiected whereby said material is dropped bygravity into a preselected compartment of the drum, a tiltably mountedframe carrying the drum, said frame tilting to move the drum in adownwardlydirection-upon a predetermined weight of said material beingdelivered to said compartment, a substantially vertical gate slidablymounted over said drum in advance of said plate in the direction ofmovement of the material and spaced from the end of said conveyor means,means for lowering the gate, means for turning the drum, and meansrendered operative by the downward movement of the drum forsimultaneously actuating said lowering means for lowering said gate intothe path of said projected material, and for actuating said drum turningmeans, combined with means for stopping the drum when it has turnedthrough a predetermined arc.

2. In a machine of the class described, a supporting frame, a drumhaving a plurality of radially disposed compartments therein open attheir outer ends, a tiltable support mounted to tilt about a horizontalaxis, means for rotatably mounting the drum at one end of said tiltablesupport, conveyor means for projecting material in loose condition overthe drum in a substantially horizontal plane, a vertical plate above thedrum spaced from the conveyor means and in the path of the material fordirecting it by gravity to a selected compartment of the drum, saidtiltable support for the drum upon accumulation of a predeterminedweight of said material in said compartment tilting about its axis ofmovement to move the drum in a downward direction, means renderedeifective by said tilting of said drum support for turning the drumthrough a preselected arc of movement, movable stop means mounted abovethe drum and spaced between the conveyor means and the vertical plate,and means controlled by the downward tilting of the drum carryingsupport for simultaneously moving said stop means into the path ofmovement of said material while the drum is being turned, and thereaftermoving it out of said path of material movement after the drum has beenturned through its predetermined arc of movement, the materialobstructed by said stop means when in the path of the material droppingby gravity into said next preceding compartment of the drum.

3. In a machine of the class described, a main frame, a tiltable supporton said main frame, a drum having a plurality of outwardly openingcompartments rotatably mounted on said tiltable support, means forcontinuously feeding loose material and projecting it in a substantiallyhorizontal plane over said drum,

fixed means in the path of said material for simultaneosly move saidmovable bafiie into the path of the material and to rotate the drum apart of a revolution.

4. In a machine of the class described, a horizontal conveyor forcontinuously conveying loose material to be packaged, and said conveyorprojecting said material therefrom at an end thereof, a drum havingradially disposed partitions and open at its outer side to provide aplurality of consecutive compartments around the drum, said conveyor endbeing disposed at one side of the drum, a vertical plate at the outerside of the drum farthest away from said conveyor against which theloose material is projected from the conveyor for said material to dropby gravity in the compartment farthest away from the conveyor, atiltably mounted frame tilting said drum in a downward direction upon apredetermined weight of said material being delivered to saidcompartment, a substantially vertical gate slidably mounted over thedrum between the delivery end of the conveyor and said plate, means forlowering the gate, means for turning the drum, and means renderedoperative by downward movement of the drum for simultaneously actuatingsaid gate lowering means to lower said gate into the path of saidprojected material for delivering it into the compartment of the drumnearest the delivery end of the conveyor, and for actuating said drumturning means, combined with means for stopping the drum when it isturned through a predetermined arc and for simultaneously lifting saidgate out of the path of movement of said projected material.

GEORGE L. McCARGAR.

REFERENCES CITED lhe following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

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